In the Light

The magic coursed through his body, it felt like a warm trickle that slowly filled him up. Rowan was entranced by the feeling but fully analyzed as to what he was experiencing. Unfortunately, the source of the heat was quickly cut off.

A bit disappointed in the constant magic flow being so quickly stopped, Rowan still managed to soak up every detail before he forgot anything.

That 'warmth' he felt was clearly the magical energy that ran through his body, that could be easily deduced by a simpleton. However what was strange was that although Luken had halted the supply of magic, Rowan still felt a slight lingering "feeling," as if there was something extra within him. The only thing that came in mind when concerning this "feeling" was a magical pool, where the energy to create magic was stored in the body. Previously, Rowan had known he could perform magic and had a magic pool as he felt the existence of his own magic. Though, after he was trapped in the mirror, he lost all of his senses, with the exception of sight and hearing.

Thus, feeling his magic pool again, or rather, having his sense of touch return was strange and somewhat fulfilling to him.

What was more intriguing was that his ability to physically feel has not faded. He could still feel his magic pool, which he judged to be only a tenth-filled by Luken's magical energy. Plus, he could feel the world around him. He felt Luken's hand holding him, his hands were as warm as he imagined. It was a strange feeling, having human contact after so long. And that was including the years where he was in human form and the nobles only came to him to ask questions, while the servants kept him at an arm's length.

When was the last time he had touched anyone? Years? Perhaps a decade?

Shaking those thoughts out of his head, he put his focus onto the why and how he got one of his senses back. Obviously, the sense had returned when Luken injected magic into him. That was why he could feel things again. However, it does not explain as to how he absorbed that magic, thinking back to his partially filled magic pool, he could only account it to either a special physique or his magical element.

It is unusual for anyone to absorb any magic as elements either repel each other and hurt the receiver or simply be released out of the body as excess heat with no harm or benefit to both sides.

In his case, Luken's magic was completely absorbed into his magical pool. Rowan had read research where people were able to do so when they had a special physique that allowed them to freely absorb elements and for them to utilize the energy as their own. Although it sounded similar to his case, the people who had these physiques must be cultivated for years, if not decades, to be able to absorb all the magical elements. Since they could only absorb their own magical element and slowly adapt to other energies.

Rowan, on the other hand, was able to take in Luken's energy within minutes. No training, so no special physique.

The only other explanation was his magical element.

Olinthus never let him test his magical capabilities nor had the tested for his element. Therefore, he was completely in the dark of his abilities and only knew he had them but was not permitted to learn about them.

He could only theorize that his element was darkness, contrasting to Luken's light element.

Darkness, like light, was a rare element. It was like any other element, it could be manifested by the user and utilized to either attack or defend. The dark and light element was unique as both could absorb all the elements. This trait could only be considered useful when there are willing comrades to spare their energy to the user.

As to how Rowan knew that he possessed darkness and not light? It was simply that he felt the magic smoothly convert itself before it reached his inner magic pool. A small change that would have gone unnoticed if he had not analyzed every second he felt Luken pour magic into him.

That small conversion proved that he was not of the light element, but rather the dark element.

All of those rampant thoughts only took a mere minute. Luken was still observing Rowan's reactions, while Gale was slowly nodding off to the side when he saw nothing was visually happening.

Luken thoughtfully narrowed his eyes, he could somewhat feel a connection between Rowan when he inputted his magic which was quickly absorbed. So, it wasn't just his "instinct" or an "illusion" when he somehow noticed Rowan's moods, previously.

Although he had a somber expression on, he was curious as to how it came to be and wanted to ask Rowan if he knew. But, from the small connection that was currently being developed, he sensed that Rowan was a bit too busy to mind him and Luken might disrupt his thoughts.

Thus, both stayed awkwardly put on Luken's private training ground, allowing Gale to doze completely off on the side.